The Band

Insatiable Tribute To Prince

His name was Prince. And he was funky!

Oakland California’s The Purple Ones treat the music and patented vibe of Prince with the utmost respect, capturing the essence of what it was like to see Prince live. The musical dexterity of The Purple Ones – with 11 pieces on stage including a full horn section – completely turns the concept of a Prince tribute band on its head, delivering Prince’s material live onstage in a way that has to be experienced to be believed.

Not a typical tribute band with a Prince lookalike or impersonator, The Purple Ones bring audiences to their feet, night after night, by speaking Prince’s musical language. energy, rhythm, creativity and of course…a serious dose of unadulterated funk. The Purple Ones tap into that soulful artistry like none other.

The Purple Ones is a labor of love that was born in 2012 when Bay Area based bandleader and founder, Morty Okin (“The New Morty Show”, co-founder of the Michael Jackson tribute “Foreverland” and Neil Diamond tribute “Super Diamond,” decided to focus all of his energy on building the greatest Prince tribute on the planet.
The Purple Ones have been selling out concert venues since their inception, growing a fan base over the years that includes long time Prince devotees and newbies that are just discovering the icon. It is not uncommon for the band to be joined on stage by “Honorary Purple Ones” like celebrity “Super Fan,” comedienne Margaret Cho and members of the artist’s extended musical family, including renowned percussionist (and brother of Sheila E,) Juan Escovedo who toured the world with Prince in the 80’s.

The newest member of The Purple Ones is Prince’s former Musical Director, bassist/guitarist and co-founder of Prince’s “New Power Generation,” Levi Seacer Jr (1986-1993). Levi Seacer Jr Levi is the only Prince band member to have played multiple instruments. Later, collaborating with Prince as a songwriter and Co-Producer on his projects. Now the lead guitarist and Musical Director of The Purple Ones, Seacer is determined to continue the musical legacy of his late friend and former band mate. He says one of the biggest keys to the authenticity is the “controlled chaos” that existed in Prince’s world that allowed for extreme creativity, “With Prince,” Levi says, “you tried everything. That’s the biggest thing I learned from him over all those years. If it doesn’t work you can always take it out, but if it does work…there’s no limit.”

It seems the sky is the limit for The Purple Ones. In the wake of Prince’s untimely passing, this group of funky pros are more determined than ever to honor his past by playing his hits, B-sides and deep cuts live in a world class show that is, in the words of Prince himself, “nothin’ but a party!”

08/01/14 Redwood City Music On The Square Concert Series, Redwood City CA

07/26/14 Slim’s, San Francisco CA

07/18/14 Britannia Arms Almaden, San Jose CA

06/21/14 Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, Felton CA

05/30/14 The Blank Club, San Jose CA

04/25/14 Dan’s Bar, Walnut Creek CA

04/11/14 Fenix, San Rafael CA

03/22/14 The Uptown, Oakland CA

02/07/14 Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, Felton CA

12/20/13 Red Devil Lounge, San Francisco CA

12/13/13 The Blank Club, San Jose CA

12/12/13 Private Event for CBS Interactive, San Francisco CA

10/26/13 The Uptown, Oakland CA

10/20/13 Treasure Island Music Festival, Bay Area CA

10/18/13 Shboom Nightclub, San Ramon CA

09/28/13 Bimbos 365 Club, San Francisco CA

09/14/13 Montgomery Village Concert Series, Santa Rosa CA

08/17/13 Dan’s Bar, Walnut Creek CA

08/09/13 Shboom Nightclub, San Ramon CA

07/26/13 The New Parish, Oakland CA

07/06/13 Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, Felton CA

06/29/13 The Blank Club, San Jose CA

06/06/13 Private Event at Brick & Mortar, San Francisco CA

05/24/13 Slim’s, San Francisco CA

05/11/13 Dan’s Bar, Walnut Creek CA

05/03/13 Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, Felton CA

04/26/13 Bimbos 365 Club, San Francisco CA

03/23/13 Dan’s Bar, Walnut Creek CA

03/08/13 Red Devil Lounge, San Francisco CA

02/15/13 Café DuNord, San Francisco CA

02/09/13 Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, Felton CA

01/24/13 Red Devil Lounge, San Francisco CA

01/24/13 Red Devil Lounge, San Francisco CA

02/09/13 Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, Felton CA

12/13/12 Red Devil Lounge, San Francisco CA

11/16/12 Red Devil Lounge, San Francisco CA

Song List

More songs always being added.

17 Days

1999

Adore

A Love Bizarre

America

Baby I’m A Star

Ballad Of Dorothy Parker

Computer Blue

Controversy

Cream

Darling Nikki

Delirious

Diamonds And Pearls

Dirty Mind

D.M.S.R.

Erotic City

Extraloveable Reloaded

Fury

Gett Off

Head

I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man

I Feel For You

It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night

I Wanna Be Your Lover

I Would Die 4 U

Housequake

Jungle Love

Kiss

Lady Cab Driver

Let’s Go Crazy

Let’s Work

Little Red Corvette

Musicology

Nothing Compares To You

Purple Rain

Rasbperry Beret

Sarah

Sexy M.F.

Shh

Sign O’ The Times

Slow Love

Soft And Wet

Starfish And Coffee

Take Me With You

The Beautiful Ones

The Bird

The Glamorous Life

U Got The Look

Uptown

When Doves Cry

Booking

The Purple Ones are available for nightclubs, casinos, fairs, festivals, concert series, weddings/corporate events. Please let us know the data of your event, as well as any information you can provide on the occasion, audience size, production needs, etc.